Georgia Department of Natural Resources

The overturned tritoon is eased to the shoreline by a Putnam County Sheriff’s patrol boat. CONTRIBUTED

The overturned tritoon is eased to the shoreline by a Putnam County Sheriff’s patrol boat. CONTRIBUTED

Holiday outing on lake turns into tragedy

Lynn Hobbs
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
A fun holiday on the lake with friends, family, and fireworks was literally turned upside down and left a mother grieving the loss of her young child.Four-year-old Tilly Roache, of Lithonia, died from delayed complications due to drowning, said Putnam County Coroner Hollis Harrison.
The capsized tritoon is being pushed by Putnam County Sheriff’s boats to the shore after a fireworks show on Lake Oconee July 4. (Contributed)

The capsized tritoon is being pushed by Putnam County Sheriff’s boats to the shore after a fireworks show on Lake Oconee July 4. (Contributed)

Pontoon capsizes; 4-year-old flown to hospital

Lynn Hobbs
Saturday, July 5, 2025
A 4-year-old girl is in the pediatric intensive care unit at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta following a boating accident on Lake Oconee on July 4th. “It’s a miracle that baby is alive,” Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills said Saturday at about 2:30 p.m.
Keith Cormican talks to news reporters Sunday after he found Gary Jones’s body. LYNN HOBBS/Staff

Keith Cormican talks to news reporters Sunday after he found Gary Jones’s body. LYNN HOBBS/Staff

Body of missing boater recovered

Lynn Hobbs
Sunday, March 9, 2025
The body of Gary Jones was recovered about noon Sunday, March 9, Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills said.Keith Cormican, of Bruce’s Legacy of Wisconsin, found Jones’s body on the 29th day of the search.
Law enforcement and rescuers search Lake Oconee for a boater who has been missing since Saturday. (Photo taken and contributed by Casey Brady)

Law enforcement and rescuers search Lake Oconee for a boater who has been missing since Saturday. (Photo taken and contributed by Casey Brady)

New details revealed as search continues for missing boater

Lynn Hobbs
Friday, February 14, 2025
The search for Gary Larson Jones continued Friday, Feb. 14, on Lake Oconee by multiple law enforcement and emergency rescue agencies.
Georgia DNR Game Wardens Taylor Bingham (left) and Mason Miller conducted a safe boater class last month at Crowe Marine in Putnam County. (IAN TOCHER/Staff)

Georgia DNR Game Wardens Taylor Bingham (left) and Mason Miller conducted a safe boater class last month at Crowe Marine in Putnam County. (IAN TOCHER/Staff)

Free DNR class promotes safe boating practices

Ian Tocher
Wednesday, June 5, 2024
In a place dubbed “Lake Country,” it’s no surprise there are many boats. That means a lot of boaters, too, of all ages, levels of experience, and responsibility. And that’s where Game Wardens Taylor Bingham and Mason Miller come in with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
Simply seeing a fox is not a cause for concern. Foxes can easily adapt to humandominated environments, so it is common for conflict to arise from sharing space with people. CONTRIBUTED

Simply seeing a fox is not a cause for concern. Foxes can easily adapt to humandominated environments, so it is common for conflict to arise from sharing space with people. CONTRIBUTED

Georgia DNR: How to avoid potential wildlife conflict situations

News Staff
Thursday, May 16, 2024
While most Georgians treasure seeing backyard wildlife like songbirds and squirrels, the sentiment might fade if you find wildlife digging through your trash can or tearing open bags of pet food on your carport.Let’s look for ways to avoid the conflict.
With the help of Georgia DNR, mobility-challenged sportsmen can still experience hunting with family members and friends. CONTRIBUTED

With the help of Georgia DNR, mobility-challenged sportsmen can still experience hunting with family members and friends. CONTRIBUTED

Georgia DNR promotes adaptive hunting

News Staff
Wednesday, January 24, 2024
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) hosted its third adaptive hunt since 2021 earlier this month on private property in Newton County. Five adaptive hunters and their hunting buddies were teamed up with a guide for the agency’s two-day Hunt and Learn experience.
Official 2023-2024 dove season hunting dates are Sept. 2-Oct. 8, Nov. 18-26 and Dec. 19-Jan. 31. Statewide shooting hours for all dove seasons are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. CONTRIBUTED

Official 2023-2024 dove season hunting dates are Sept. 2-Oct. 8, Nov. 18-26 and Dec. 19-Jan. 31. Statewide shooting hours for all dove seasons are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. CONTRIBUTED

Georgia dove-hunting season opens Saturday

News Staff
Thursday, August 31, 2023
The Georgia dove hunting season opens Sept. 2, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division (WRD).
The new Lifejacket Loaner Station at the Sinclair Dam Boat Ramp. COURTESY OF ADAM HEAGY/Oconee Outfitters

The new Lifejacket Loaner Station at the Sinclair Dam Boat Ramp. COURTESY OF ADAM HEAGY/Oconee Outfitters

Georgia Power and DNR install Lifejacket Loaner Station

Bailey McCully
Thursday, July 27, 2023
Georgia Power installed a Lifejacket Loaner Station at the Sinclair Dam Boat Ramp, known as the ‘Tail Race,’ on July 14 as part of Georgia Department of National Resources (DNR)’s SPLASH program.
Two things that make fishing for catfish desirable, according to WRD, are that catfish are plentiful in Georgia and the gear needed is simple.

Two things that make fishing for catfish desirable, according to WRD, are that catfish are plentiful in Georgia and the gear needed is simple.

Angling for catfish? DNR offers tips

Brad Harrison
Thursday, July 20, 2023
The summer months are filled with activities to enjoy outside, and angling for catfish is among them as there are plenty of locations statewide to do so, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division (WRD).
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